In this article, I want to share the story of a girl who grew up and turned her childhood dream into reality. Welcome, and thank you for taking the time to read this piece. What follows is a very personal story from one of UCD’s own.
My name is Snizhana — a Slavic name that translates as “Snow” or “Snow White.” I was born in Ukraine, in a small town near Kharkiv. I lived an ordinary life, building my future step by step, and from early childhood I dreamed of becoming a scientist. I still remember being asked in primary school what I wanted to be when I grew up. My answer was simple: “I want to be a scientist, to find a cure for cancer, and to help the world.”
The years passed. I adored biology classes and later enrolled in a degree programme in biological sciences at university. In February 2022, I was preparing to travel abroad for an Erasmus exchange. My flight was scheduled for the 25th of February, my suitcase was packed — and just days before the long-awaited trip, my life was turned upside down. My country came under attack. I was forced to remain at home for a month, after which my parents insisted — against my will — that I leave for Poland.
After a year of studying medical biology there (in parallel with my home degree), I graduated with two bachelor’s degrees with distinction and returned home for a month. My father — the best human being in the universe, whom I will be grateful to for the rest of my life — told me about a wonderful country called Ireland. He said I would love it, that I needed to buy a ticket for the next day, and that I should get out of the zone of constant shelling. He recommended that I buy a train ticket to save money. When that wasn’t possible, I opened the map — and to my absolute astonishment realised, with genuine disbelief, that Ireland was an island. An island! Somehow this fact had entirely slipped past me, and I was stunned. Still, I packed my things and set off the very next day.
Travelling alone to a country where I had no friends, no family and no one waiting for me was terrifying — a leap straight into the unknown. But a person can endure any challenge when their will is strong enough.
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After days spent on the road, I arrived in a country so beautiful and so gentle in spirit that it felt almost surreal — as if I had crossed into another world. Soon, I was embraced by my host family, Bernadette and Peter Cronin. Their kindness gave me not just a place to stay, but a sense of safety, dignity and the strength to start again.
Six weeks after my arrival, I secured my first job in a shopping centre. Language barriers made it difficult — I had always found English challenging and had specialised in German instead — but I continued to pursue opportunities in science. I visited UCD, met with faculty members, asked questions and explored potential openings. Through the support of my host family, who looked after me with genuine care, I was introduced to Professor William Gallagher. The scope and depth of his research captivated me, and I hoped I might one day be able to contribute to it.
From autumn 2023, shortly after my arrival in Ireland, we began the long process of applying for a grant for displaced Ukrainian researchers. It required countless documents, confirmations, waiting, and many sleepless nights.
Not long after changing jobs in the New Year, fortune finally found me. Science Foundation Ireland approved my Grant for Displaced Ukrainian Researchers. On Friday, 31 May 2024, I worked my last shift at the golf club; the following Monday, 3 June, I walked through the doors of the Conway Institute for my first day as a Research Assistant. I felt an overwhelming sense of joy — a feeling that still stays with me.
I’m constantly amazed at how powerful our thoughts can be. If you desire something with your whole heart, the universe truly listens — sometimes immediately, sometimes years later. Today, with deeper knowledge, I understand that there is no single universal cure for all forms of cancer, and that the scientific reality is far more complex than my childhood ambition. But I believe that science is moving toward astonishing breakthroughs — and that we, scientists, are part of this progress. I know that decades from now, new discoveries will be as transformative as Alexander Fleming’s discovery of penicillin in the last century.
I would like to express my gratitude to Precision Oncology Ireland for giving me the opportunity to share my story, to Professor William Gallagher, Dr Arman Rahman, and all my colleagues at UCD. I am deeply grateful to my host family, who welcomed me into their home, and to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), who ensured I had a place to stay. I am grateful to this country, and to every person in it, for allowing me to become part of this community.
'Snizhana has been a great addition to our Tissue Imaging Platform team, as part of the POI project. She has excelled in developing new cancer biomarker assays, which have yielded beautiful and insightful results. The support of the SBI team, particularly Hugh Doyle, is very much appreciated by us.'
Prof William Gallagher
Thanks to the support of the Research Ireland Displaced Researchers Scheme, Irish academics have been able to welcome talented new colleagues into their projects, while displaced researchers have been given the chance to restore their careers and rebuild their lives within Ireland’s welcoming research community.
Systems Biology Ireland's grants manager, Dr. Hugh Doyle
About the Author: Snizhana Vasyliuk is a research assistant, working in Prof. William Gallagher's group as part of POI's Tissue Imaging Platform.